The X99 platform has two generations of products: the first generation, Haswell-E/EP, and the second generation, Broadwell-E/EP. However, the microarchitecture changes between these two generations are very minor. Although Broadwell offers better memory performance, the initial 14nm process was not very mature, and because Haswell introduced the FIVR module, the first generation products have an advantage in terms of frequency.
The most significant factor for gaming is single-core performance, so any processor with too low of a single-core performance can be disregarded, and overclockable models should be prioritized. Since the X99 platform has a large number of OEM products and many SKUs with very small shipments, they are almost unavailable in the market. It’s worth looking into this.
Let’s first take a look at the three models currently available for purchase: i7 6950X, E5 1680 V3, and E5 1680 V4.
- The 6950X is the most powerful HEDT product on the X99 platform, with 10 cores and 20 threads, capable of overclocking with a base clock of around 4.3–4.4 GHz. It’s worth mentioning because it offers better memory performance with quad-channel memory that can reach 3200+ MHz, delivering over 65 GB/s of bandwidth. You get the best memory performance on the X99 platform along with good single-core performance.
However, its price is too high. At the price of around $1000, you could instead buy today’s 7500F or 12600KF, which in terms of pure performance—single-threaded, multi-threaded, and memory performance—would completely outperform the 6950X. Even if you already have a compatible motherboard, buying it now is not worthwhile.
- The E5 1680 V3 was, at the time, an extremely impressive processor in both single-core and multi-core performance. Due to the low voltage enabled by the Haswell architecture’s FIVR, it could easily reach 4.8 GHz with all cores running. If you also overclocked the memory, it could reach 4.6 GHz with 3200 MHz quad-channel memory. Compared to the 6950X above, the E5 1680 V3 has a significant frequency advantage, with a [email protected] GHz not being its limit, but rather the limit of its cooling.
- The E5 1680 V4 is a downgraded version of the V3 in terms of overclocking. It lacks FIVR and has a worse manufacturing process, meaning it cannot reach the same frequencies as the V3. However, its base clock is higher, with all cores running at 3.6 GHz and single-core at 4.0 GHz, making it more suitable for users whose boards cannot overclock. With 4/3.6 GHz frequencies, it’s not too low, and the single-core performance is better than Zen, while the multi-core performance is stronger than the 8700K.
Next, let’s look at a few processors that are essentially theoretical “best options” but are impossible to buy.
- E5 1681/1686/1691 V3
These three processors are truly powerhouse chips. They all belong to the Haswell architecture, meaning they can achieve very high frequencies.
The 1681 V3 has 10 cores and 20 threads, and its overclocking potential is likely higher than the 6950X. The 1686 has 12 cores and can also reach high frequencies. The 1691 has a staggering 14 cores, and its high frequency performance is even more impressive, with 14 cores and 28 threads reaching 4.5 GHz.
- E5 2602 V4
This is a 4-core, 8-thread processor that can achieve a full-core frequency of 5.1 GHz. This is likely the highest default frequency Intel CPU to date. It would definitely be strong for gaming, outperforming the 7700K by a large margin.
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